Portable pump unit



Aug. 1, 1944. c. s. THICKE 2,355,035

PORTABLE PUMP UNIT Filed Nov. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR C/auae 5y0ney mic/re Aug. 1944- I 'c. s. THICKE 2,355,035

PORTABLE PUMP UNIT Fild Nov. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i N V E NTO R C/aude Sydney 7/7/6/(6 Patented Aug. 1, 1944 V UNITED v S'IUA'I'ES PAUI'I' JNT OFFICE 2,355,035 j PORTABLE PUMP UNIT cClaude Sydney Thicke, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;

Application November 28, 1941, Serial No. 420,392 I (01. 103 218) Claims.

This invention relates to a portable pump unit.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a water pump-unit which may easily be carried on a mans back.

Another object is the provision of a portable pump unit of extremely light construction.

Another object is the provision of a water pump unit capable'of being carried on a mans back and which iscomplete in itself, including everything necessary for its operation, and very compact. g

A further object is the provision of a unit of the nature describedof simple and yet durable construction. T With theseand other objects in view, the present invention consists essentially of a portable pump unit comprising a base adapted to be strapped to a mans back, an internal combustion engine mounted on the base, reduction gears connected to the engine, a pump on the base connected through the reduction gears to the engine, and means'or'i the base for holding hose to be used with the pump, as more fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of the unit,

"Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, with the engine and pump of the unit removed,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of the pump with hoses connected thereto, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View of the reduction gear housing broken away to show the interior thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I0 is a base consisting of a tube ll bent substantially into a rectangle to form a frame, and spaced tubular braces 12 extending longitudinally of the frame spaced from the sides thereof. The ends of these supports are connected to the sides of the tube II at each end of the frame and sections thereof are arched or raised to form supports l3.

An internal combustion engine I4 is mounted on the supports [3. This'engine has a carburetor H5 at one side thereof and a housing ifi at its forward end. A reduction gear housing ll is mounted on the rear of the engine. The power shaft of the engine is connected through the reduction gears in the housing ll to a pump t8 mounted on a high bracket l9. This pump has an inlet 20 and an outlet 2 I.

The bracket I9 is in the form of an inverted U, the legs 22 of which are secured to the braces I2. A fuel tank 23 is carried by the braces l2 between the legs 22 of the bracket l9 and. beneath the reduction housing IT. A fuel pipe 24 extends from the tank to the carburetor l5.

A casing 25, having vertical sides 26, encloses the'base I0 and the tank 23 and terminates just above the latter. Suitable openings are formed in the top of the casing 25 to permit the engine l4 and the bracket [9 to project upwardly therethrough. This casing forms compartments '2'! at each side of the engine and the bracket-(A length of hose 28 is folded and placed partly in each compartment'Zl, see Figure 3. A strap 30 extends downwardly in a curve from each side of the housing 5 to the casing 25 to form loop,*see Figure 2. Another length of hose 3| is wound around the engine Hand the bracket IS on top of the casing 25 beneath the straps 3b.

Suitable shoulder straps 32 are secured to the base I0, by. means of which the unit niay be"secured to am'ans back.

A wrench-3.3 is removably retained on the base of the casing 25 between the braces l2 by means of a holder 34 secured to said base;

This pump unitmay be used for any purpose but it is primarily designed for use in fighting forest fires which usually take place where pumping equipment isnot available and at such places Where it takes a long time to get there with the cumbersome'equipm'ent now used, owing to the distances to be travelled and the lack of roads.

The hose 28 is folded and kept in the compartments 21 While the hose 3| is wound around the engine l4 and the bracket I9, this hose being retained in place by the straps 30. When the unit is required at a certain point, it is strapped onto a mans back and he can go straight to the fire in a fraction of the time it usually takes in obstructed areas and difficult terrain. The unit weights only about lbs. In fact, it is possible to send out several men with these units to attack the fire from various positions. As is the case with all fires, a little attention at the beginning of a forest fire is of very much more value than a lot of attention later on. These units may be used to check a fire until the heavier equipment arrives.

When it is desired to use the unit, the base I0 is placed on the ground. Then the hose 3| is connected to the inlet 20 of the pump and the hose 28 is connected to the outlet 2|. Next the end of the hose 3| is dropped into the source of water, usually a stream or pool, and the engine l4 started in order to operate the pump l8. The tank 23 is large enough to supply the engine for several hours, thus enabling the operator to battle the fire until it is put out or until the heavy equipment arrives.

The base l formed of tubing is very strong and yet light. The arching of the braces l2 to form the supports I3 provides an extremely strong base for carrying the weight of the engine and withstanding the vibration thereof.

From the above, it will readily be seen that a portable pump unit of light but durable construction has been provided which is complete and compact, and may easily be carried on a mans back.

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a portable pump unit including a pump, an internal combustion engine operatively con.- nected to the pump, and a fuel tank for the engine, the structure which comprises a tube bent substantially into a rectangle to form a base frame adapted to be strapped to a mans back, spaced tubular braces extending longitudinally of the frame spaced from the sides thereof for carrying the engine and the tank, and an inverted U-shaped' bracket mounted on the braces over the tank for carrying th pump.

2. In a portable pump unit including a pump, an internal combustion engine operatively connected to the pump, and a fuel tank for the engine, the structure which comprises a base adapted to be strapped to a mans back and upon which the engine and fuel tank are mounted, an

inverted U-shaped bracket mounted on the, base over the tank spaced from the sidesof th base for carrying the pump, a casing enclosingthe base and terminating above the tank, said casing having openings in the top thereof through which the engine and. bracket project, and compartmens formed in the casing on each side of the engine and the bracket.

3. In a portable pump unit including a pump, an internal combustion engine operatively connected to the pump, and a fuel tank for the engine, the

structure which comprises a tube bent substantially into a rectangle to form a base frame adapted to b strapped to a mans back, spaced tubular braces extending longitudinally of the frame spaced from the sides thereof for carrying the engine and the tank, an inverted U-shaped bracket mounted on the braces over the tank for carrying the pump, a casing enclosing the base and terminating above the tank, said casing having:openings in the top thereof through which the engine and the bracket project, and compartments formed in the casing on each side of the engine and the bracket.

4. In a portable pump unit including a pump, an internal combustion engine operatively connected to the pump, and a fuel tank for the engine, the structure which comprises a base adapted to be strapped to a mans back and upon which the engine and fuel tank are mounted, an inverted U-shaped bracket mounted on the base over the tank spaced from the sides of the base for carrying the pump, a casing enclosing the base and terminating above the tank, said casing having openings in the top thereof through which the engine and the bracket project, compartments formed in the casing on each side of the engine and the bracket, and a loop formed at each side of the engine above the casing.

5. In a portable, pump unit including a pump,

an internal combustion engine operatively connected to the pump, and a fuel tank for the engine, the structure which comprises a tube bent substantially into a rectangle to form a base frame adapted to be strapped to a mans back, spaced tubular braces extending longitudinally of the frame spaced from the sides thereof for carrying the fuel tank adjacent one end thereof, an arched section in each brace adjacent its opposite end forming a support, said supports being adapted to carry the engine, an inverted U- shaped bracket mounted on the braces over the tank for carrying the pump, a casing enclosing thebase and terminating above the tank, said casing having openings in the top thereof through which the engine and the bracket project, compartments formed in the casing on each side of the engine and the bracket, anda loop formed at each side of the engine above the casing.

CLAUDE SYDNEY THICKE. 

